Unfiltered political press releases: Grassley, Ernst, Judge and Weaver

These are unedited bodies of news releases sent by politicians representing our area or candidates for those offices.

Monday, June 20

From Sen. Charles Grassley’s office: On guns
Senator Chuck Grassley released the following statement after his amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill received a majority of votes in the Senate, but failed to gain the 60 votes needed for passage.  The final vote was 53-47.
“The terrorist attack on innocent people in Orlando represents a great tragedy and an affront to our way of life and very existence as Americans.  Americans have every reason to be upset and even furious over the deadliest attack since the awful events of September 11th.  We should be addressing the real problem of radical Islamic terrorism, but instead the Democrat leadership has taken their eyes off the ball and is trying to turn this tragedy into another debate about guns.  
“The other sides says that no progress is being made on gun crimes.  We could have made important improvements through my amendment which would have improved and enhanced the background check system, approved a major increase in authorized funding for the background check system, and ensured that law enforcement be notified if a person who has been investigated for terrorism over the last five years tries to buy a gun.  The amendment also would have addressed mental health through new definitions and clarifications, provided additional due process protections, required reports to Congress on various issues related to firearms prosecutions, and would have directed any gun walking tactic to be approved by the Justice Department leadership.
“But, unfortunately Senators who are unwilling to support important progress are putting a higher premium on politics.  The Second Amendment right to bear arms is a fundamental right and any legislative action must start and finish with recognition of this fact.”
From Patty Judge for Senate: On guns

Chuck Grassley continued to oppose common sense legislation to prohibit individuals suspected of terrorism from purchasing guns today, while also introducing an amendment which would make it easier for mentally ill individuals to buy guns legally. In response, U.S. Senate candidate Patty Judge released the following statement:

“It’s time for us to take this issue seriously. Unfortunately, Chuck Grassley has continued to stand with his friends in Washington by voting against expanded background checks and common sense legislation that would prevent dangerous individuals from buying a gun. If you’re too dangerous to fly on a plane or the government suspects you of terrorism, then you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun – that shouldn’t be up for debate. Voting against these measures is one thing, but Chuck Grassley decided to go even further by introducing an amendment that would actually make it easier for people with severe mental illness to buy a gun legally. Chuck Grassley has been in Washington for too long if he thinks this is what Iowans expect.”
From Sen. Joni Ernst’s office: On Guns

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard and member of the Senate committees on Armed Services, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, today voted to prevent terrorists from obtaining weapons, and renewed her call for more aggressive efforts to defeat and destroy ISIS.
The Iowa Senator supported the Cornyn Amendment, which prevents suspected terrorists from obtaining a gun for up to three business days, during which time the FBI is able to investigate the individual, confirm or rule out the identity and suspected nexus to terrorism of the individual, and determine whether to file an emergency petition in court to prevent the gun transfer. This process ensures that law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment and constitutional due process rights are protected.
Unlike the Feinstein Amendment, the Cornyn Amendment includes due process protections – notice and an opportunity to be heard in a court of law – before the U.S. Government can deny an individual’s Second Amendment right. This is particularly important because of the widely reported flaws with the numerous terrorist watch lists – including the no-fly list – kept by the U.S. Government that may wrongfully implicate innocent American citizens. For example, a 2007 report by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) concluded that roughly 38% of records tested “continued to contain errors or inconsistencies that were not identified through the Terrorist Screening Center’s quality assurance efforts.”
In addition, Senator Ernst supported the Grassley Amendment, which would improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) without unlawfully infringing on law-abiding U.S. citizen’s Second Amendment rights.
Senator Ernst issued the following statement on today’s votes:
“The horrific attack in Orlando made clear that we must work harder and do more to defeat terrorism here at home and around the globe.
“The numerous terrorist watch lists kept by the U.S. Government, including the no-fly list, are flawed. That is why I support an effective solution to prevent terrorists from obtaining a gun without violating innocent Americans’ constitutional rights. In addition, I support Senator Grassley’s measure to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System without unlawfully infringing on law-abiding U.S. citizen’s Second Amendment rights.
“However, that is not enough. Laws will not deter terrorists from pledging allegiance to radical Islamic groups and harming Americans. In response to this tragedy, we must renew our resolve to combat terrorism.
“The FBI has said that ISIS is present in all 50 states, and we saw a tragic example of that in Florida. President Obama must develop a comprehensive strategy to completely defeat ISIS that includes contributions by all members of the U.S.-led coalition to full-spectrum military, diplomatic, and development operations. We must get serious about finding ways to improve our efforts to counter violent extremism, defeat ISIS, and end the humanitarian crisis affecting the region and the world. We simply cannot afford to sit back and wait for the next attack to take place.”

Tuesday, June 21

From Congressional candidate Kim Weaver: On King $20 bill amendment

Kim Weaver, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, released a statement this morning, in response to Congressman Steve King’s amendment that would block the U.S. Treasury Department from putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.

“Iowans have four representatives in the United States House of Representatives, and unfortunately one of them seems to maintain a laser focus on where his next headline-grabbing piece of stunt legislation will come from.”

“What will this amendment do for residents of Iowa’s 4th District? Nothing. How will it make the lives of his constituents better? It won’t. And what chance does this meaningless and mean-spirited gesture have of actually passing? Just like most measures introduced by Steve King, none.”

“Iowans are facing real challenges. Tuition costs are rising and graduating students are suffocating under oppressive student loan debt. Seniors are struggling to make ends meet and retire in dignity. Wages for working class Iowans continue to stagnate. And Steve King is waging a one-man war against putting the first African American woman on US currency. It really is time to send someone to Congress who will fight for Iowans and stay focused on results.”

Steve King staff told the Des Moines Register that the congressman would issue a statement sometime Tuesday.

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